Display device housing and form-fitted configuration

ABSTRACT

A display device may be mounted at a predetermined angle via a free-standing display housing. In one example, the display device bracket may include at least two spring loaded tabs and a display monitor affixed to the display device bracket. A base mount may be on a resting surface with at least one side that is configured to make contact with the display device. A rear housing cover may also be included with at least two receiving tabs form-fitted to receive the spring loaded tabs and provide a secure spring-loaded locking position that maintains the display device bracket in a locked position and in an upright predefined angled viewing position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/354,545, filed Nov. 17, 2016, titled “DISPLAYDEVICE HOUSING AND FORM-FITTED CONFIGURATION”, now issued as U.S. Pat.No. 9,836,081 on Dec. 5, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/061,697, filed Mar. 3, 2016, titled “DISPLAYDEVICE HOUSING AND FORM-FITTED CONFIGURATION”, now issued as U.S. Pat.No. 9,529,382 on Dec. 27, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/156,600 entitled “DISPLAY DEVICE HOUSING ANDFORM-FITTED CONFIGURATION”, filed Jan. 16, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat.No. 9,310,833 on Apr. 12, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

This application relates to an apparatus that provides a housing for aproduct insert, and more specifically to a housing that has aform-fitted enclosure that may be easily setup and maintained withoutthe need for screws or other similar fastening mechanisms.

BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION

Conventionally, the design of a device (i.e., monitor) housing isgenerally a rectangular box with various hardware components mountedinside the box which are otherwise hidden from an outside viewperspective. A bezel frame may be referred to as the outside framearound a computer or monitor device. The bezel frame or housing isaffixed together as two or more parts, such as a front portion and aback portion which together form the housing. The housing is generallykept together by numerous screws which take time to put together andwhich can also be easily lost if the screws are separated from thehousing portions. However, none of the previous device housings havebeen constructed to provide a hardware configuration of the presentapplication.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

An example embodiment may include a display device bracket with at leasttwo spring loaded tabs and a display monitor affixed to the displaydevice bracket, a base mount with at least one side that is configuredto make contact with the display device, and a rear housing cover withat least two receiving tabs form-fitted to receive the spring loadedtabs and provide a secure spring-loaded locking position that maintainsthe display device bracket in a locked position and in an uprightpredefined angled viewing position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a display device.

FIG. 2 is a right side profile view of the display device.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the display device housing.

FIG. 4 is a rear-side perspective of the display device and itscorresponding housing.

FIG. 5 is an internal view of the backside of the display device.

FIG. 6 is an exploded rear view of the display and rear cover accordingto example embodiments.

FIG. 7 is an exploded front view of a display and rear cover accordingto example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

It will be readily understood that the components of the presentapplication, as generally described and illustrated in the figuresherein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations. Thus, the following detailed description of theembodiments of an apparatus, as represented in the attached figures, isnot intended to limit the scope of the application as claimed, but ismerely representative of selected embodiments of the application.

The features, structures, or characteristics of the applicationdescribed throughout this specification may be combined in any suitablemanner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases“example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language,throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the presentapplication. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “insome embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language,throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the samegroup of embodiments, and the described features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a display device. Referring to FIG. 1, thedisplay device 100 includes a main display area 110, such as a liquidcrystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED), and/or cathode raytube (CRT) type of display device. The display front may also include aborder, frame or surrounding support structure 112. The bottom of thedisplay frame include support legs 113 in any number to provide asupport that keeps the monitor elevated off the table in case ofmoisture or related hazards.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the display device 200. Referring to FIG. 2,the display frame 212 illustrates the border of the display and the reardisplay housing is formed of one or two parts 221 and 223 which supportthe rear display hardware and controls, including one or more of an A/Cadapter, a graphics display card, memory, power supply, control buttons,etc. The legs 213 support the frame off the resting surface to avoidcontact with moisture (e.g., spilled beverages, etc.), and the lightemitting diode (LED) 216 provides an indicator to persons seeking accessto the display. For example, the LED 216 may provide a first color redwhen a scheduled meeting is in session, or a second color yellow whenthe meeting is near its end or the scheduled time frame is over. Thecolor green may indicate that the monitor is free to use in a conferenceroom type of setting so the persons approaching the monitor may view thecurrent status of the monitor. A scheduling program or application mayintegrate with the monitor's controls to change the LED 216 when thetime frame is over or is about to end or other indicator, etc. Thebutton 225 provides access to a control function such as power or othercontrolling feature. Both the upper cover 221 and the bottom cover 223may be part of the same rear housing cover that is form-fitted onto thefront display housing by a spring loaded series of tabs andcorresponding slots.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view perspective of the free-standing display frame300. The resting surface of the display may be parallel with the restingsurface of the frame 330. The legs 313 may provide a gap between theframe 330 and the resting surface. The display frame 312 is illustratedas being angled upward from the bottom of the display frame 312. The LED316 is also shown as being part of the display frame 312. The receivingslot 334 provides access to a digital input interface 336 and/or powerinterface and/or Ethernet interface. The screws 335 may be part of theoriginal frame configuration but may not be required to mount the frameto the display device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view perspective 400 of the display device.The back cover includes an upper portion 421 and a lower portion 423which may be bound together or may be separate covers each of which maybe snapped into position via a form-fitted slot configuration on thedisplay frame 412. The LED 416 provides an indicator to persons seekingaccess to the display and the vent holes 444 provide a ventilation forheat dissipation. The button 425 provides a way to remove the cover oraccess a power button on the display. The receiving slot 434 is wherethe data cable from the CPU device may be inserted to provide digitalinformation to the display.

FIG. 5 is an internal view of the backside of the main/front displaydevice portion. Referring to FIG. 5, the internal view 500 provides aview of the internal display components, such as but not limited to theLED 516, the securing tabs 532 and 534, a camera assembly 535 andcorresponding camera lens 536, integrated circuit (IC) hardware andrelated controls 537 and a data bus and/or power supply portion. Also,the button 555 used to access the cover or control power to the displayis shown and a bottom surface 542. When placing the main/front displaydevice portion into the rear device housing, the tabs 532 and 534 may bemet with affixing slots or receiving tabs on the rear device coverportion. The slots and tabs provide an easy form-fitted configuration tosecurely combine the front and rear portions of the display housing. Thetabs 532 and 534 may slide through the receiving slots on the rear coverand into form-fitted slots which keep the tabs in place from a certaindegree of tension provided by a spring or torsion force of the tabsposition in the corresponding slots. The examples illustrated in FIGS.1-5 relate to a free-standing display and device housing. Each of theexamples may also provide a common frame bezel for all mounting needswhether the sizes are 4.3 inches, 7 inches, 10 inches, etc. Theultra-thin slim design may be for 1 inch or less in thickness. The framemay also provide a grounding path for the electronics without anyadditional wiring.

The display frame is attached to a rear housing portion which includestabs in either both the left and right sides of the top portion and/oror two locations on the bottom portion providing 2, 4 or more tabs toassist with form-fitted snapping into place when mounting the displayonto the free-standing bracket or other mounting bracket. The tabs arespring loaded and provide resistance when pressed downward into thedirection of the device housing. The table top base may be a PCB snap-inconfiguration. The configuration permits the independent positioning ofthe circuit board in the housing, the speaker box and USB connector maybe positioned across the rear cover by the bracket, the Ethernet port ispositioned at the bottom of the unit so up to a Category-6 (CAT-6) cablemay be introduced or other cable type. Also, no screws are needed toclose the housing and the grounding path is established withoutadditional wiring.

FIG. 6 is an exploded rear view of the display, mounting surface andrear cover according to example embodiments. Referring to FIG. 6, in theexploded view of the display device 600, like reference numerals referto like elements in other illustrations. The main three components arethe display device and its surface mounting platform and the rear coverall of which may snap, screw or adjustably fit one another to form afree standing display stand.

FIG. 7 is an exploded front view of a display, mounting, and rear coveraccording to example embodiments. In FIG. 7, the front view 700 includesthe same main three components which include the display device, itscorresponding surface mounting platform and the rear cover all of whichmay snap, screw or adjustably fit one another to form a free standingdisplay stand. The securing lips may be one, two or more and in thisexample of FIG. 7, the securing lip may provide a resting surface for aresting tab inside the display bracket. The securing lips 543 may be onfar ends of the base plate and a longer securing lip 545 may be in themiddle between the two shorter securing lips 543.

It will be readily understood that the components of the application, asgenerally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.Thus, the detailed description of the embodiments is not intended tolimit the scope of the application as claimed, but is merelyrepresentative of selected embodiments of the invention.

One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that theapplication as discussed above may include hardware elements inconfigurations that are different than those which are disclosed.Therefore, although the application has been described based upon thesepreferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the artthat certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructionswould be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of theinvention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention,therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a display devicebracket comprising at least two spring loaded tabs; a mount with atleast one side that is configured to make contact with the displaydevice bracket; and a rear housing cover configured to receive the atleast two spring loaded tabs and maintain the display device bracket ina locked position; wherein the mount includes securing lips thatmaintain the display device bracket; wherein the rear housing covercovers the mount on three sides that are not occupied by the displaydevice bracket.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a securespring-loaded locking position maintains the display device bracket inan upright predefined angled viewing position.
 3. The apparatus of claim2, wherein the predefined angled viewing position is between 30 and 90degrees.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear housing covercomprises four receiving tabs with two receiving tabs on one side of therear housing cover and two receiving tabs on an opposite side to the oneside of the rear housing cover.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein therear housing cover comprises six receiving tabs, and wherein at leasttwo of the receiving tabs are longer than the other remaining receivingtabs.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises at leastone resting tab that provides at least one securing lip to maintain thedisplay bracket in a fixed angled position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6,wherein the securing lips comprise two securing lips.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a display monitor affixed to the displaydevice bracket.
 9. An apparatus, comprising: a display device bracketcomprising at least two spring loaded tabs; a mount with at least oneside that is configured to make contact with the display device bracket;and a rear housing cover configured to receive the at least two springloaded tabs and provide the display device bracket in a locked position;wherein the mount includes securing lips that maintain the displaydevice bracket; wherein the rear housing cover covers the mount on threesides that are not occupied by the display device bracket.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein a secure spring-loaded locking positionmaintains the display device bracket in an upright predefined angledviewing position.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the predefinedangled viewing position is between 30 and 90 degrees.
 12. The apparatusof claim 9, wherein one of the securing lips is longer than another twoof the securing lips.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the rearhousing cover comprises four receiving tabs with two receiving tabs onone side of the rear housing cover and two receiving tabs on an oppositeside to the one side of the rear housing cover.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the rear housing cover comprises six receiving tabs,and wherein at least two of the receiving tabs are longer than the otherremaining receiving tabs.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein themount comprises at least one resting tab that provides at least onesecuring lip to maintain the display bracket in a fixed angled position.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one securing lipcomprises two securing lips.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9, furthercomprising a display monitor affixed to the display device bracket. 18.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device bracket isconfigured to attach to multiple sides of an outer exterior edge of arear side of a display panel.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein abottom edge of the display device bracket is received by a front edge ofthe mount.